Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today issued $13.6 million in state aid checks to 1,206 homeowners, renters, businesses and farmers affected by July flooding across the Mohawk Valley, Central New York and Niagara County. The Governor today traveled to the Village of Herkimer, the City of Lockport, and the City of Oneida to personally deliver checks to dozens of New Yorkers that sustained serious losses as a result of the flooding.

In times of crisis, government should work for the people, and today I am proud to say we have. A little over a month after announcing that the State would step in to provide the help the Federal Government didnt, we are now sending checks to thousands of homeowners, renters, businesses and farmers who are still recovering from this summers floods, said Governor Cuomo. By acting quickly and efficiently to expedite the process, in a few short weeks money has begun to flow to enable residents in these communities to begin the recovery process and build back better than before.

This is the latest action taken by the Governor as part of the comprehensive assistance and delivery of aid to help the communities devastated by flooding this summer rebuild, recover and prepare for future disasters. Immediately following FEMAs decision to deny recovery funding to homeowners, the Governor announced the launch of the Mohawk Valley and 2013 Upstate Flood Recovery Program to allow residents who sustained damage to their homes to receive much needed funding and rebuild. In addition, last week, Governor Cuomo announced that, at his request, FEMA extended the application period for Public Assistance to September 10th in the counties affected by the late June/early July flooding. After the floods, the Governor also deployed the Department of Financial Services Mobile Command Center to outline resources and advice for affected families and businesses dealing with their insurance companies. Finally the Governor launched the New York Rising Communities Reconstruction program, which will deliver a total of $6 million to counties hit by summer flooding, enabling them to build more resilient infrastructure that will better protect them from future natural disasters.

Below is a county by county breakdown of the funding:

County

Checks Issued

Total Amount

Herkimer

558

$6,604,757.00

Oneida

145

$1,636,791.42

Montgomery

104

$1,419,207.23

Madison

86

$1,678,688.18

Niagara

313

$2,276,031.13

Total

1,206

$13,615,480.96

Below is a breakdown of the funds by county, then by homeowner, renter, small businesses and farms:

County

Checks Issued

Total Amount

Homeowners

Renters

Small Businesses

Farms

Herkimer

558

$6,604,757.00

496/ $5,659,171.80

25/ $61,988.47

24/ $552,902.34

13/ $330,694.29

Oneida

145

$1,636,791.42

135/ $1,208,584.66

1/ $10,075.26

5/ $250,000.00

4/ $168,131.50

Montgomery

104

$1,636,791.42

135/ $1,208,584.66

1/ $10,075.26

5/ $250,000.00

4/ $168,131.50

Madison

86

$1,678,688.18

65/ $1,407,290.70

9/ $33,365.26

6/ $154,759.56

6/ $83,272.66

Niagara

313

$2,276,031.13

281/ $1,987,531.29

24/ $50,356.01

7/ $237,277.75

1/ $886.08

Total

1,206

$13,615,480.96

1,044/ $11,200,217.27

79/ $216,200.77

53/ $1,464,446.41

30/ $734,630.43

Additional applications are currently being processed and more checks will be issued in the coming days.

For homeowners, eligible costs include the repair and/or replacement of damage to roofs, windows, doors, siding, flooring, drywall, insulation, foundations, well and septic systems, electric systems, fuel tanks, heating and water systems, and appliances, as well as remediation of environmental hazards. Homeowners whose properties were destroyed by these floods were also eligible for a buyout of their damaged property.

For businesses, eligible costs included reimbursement for losses to inventory, equipment, materials, fixtures and furniture; as well as design, construction, rehabilitation or reconstruction of flood damaged structures.

For farms, funding was made available to help with capital repair and replacement needs.

Senate Majority Coalition Leader Dean G. Skelos said, Today, New York State is delivering on its commitment to Upstate residents whose homes and businesses were devastated by recent flooding. By stepping up and covering what the federal government would not, the State is giving the people in these hard-hit communities the ability to rebuild, move forward and get on with their lives. We will continue to stand with the residents of the Mohawk Valley and Niagara County during this difficult time.

Senate Majority Coalition Leader Jeffrey D. Klein said, Governor Cuomo and my colleagues in the legislature will always stand by New Yorkers in their time of need. It has been a tough ten months for New York homeowners, with severe storms and flooding affecting millions of residents. But by rapidly delivering aide to affected homeowners, were now able to help these communities rebuild. I commend Governor Cuomo and his administration for working hard to get these checks out so quickly and I look forward to helping more homeowners get the funds they need in the weeks and months ahead.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, This state has demonstrated time and again its commitment to helping New Yorkers recover after widespread destruction. In recent years, we have learned firsthand the kind of devastation brought about by hurricanes, flooding, snow and ice storms as well as the cost and challenges that homeowners, businesses and farmers face in trying to rebuild. I am pleased to join with Governor Cuomo and my colleagues in the Legislature to expedite this funding, which will provide essential relief and accelerate the restoration of our communities affected by this years flooding.

Senator David J. Valesky said The flooding that tore through communities across New York State just a few months ago left many home and business owners struggling to put back the pieces of their lives. While the federal government was unable to offer individual assistance, Governor Cuomo refused to let them carry this burden alone and pledged that state government would step in to help. Today marks the fulfillment of that pledge, with checks on their way to impacted individuals around the state. Yet again Governor Cuomo is showing how government should work meeting the needs of the people. Assemblyman William Magee said, Even before the floodwaters began to recede earlier this summer, it was clear that my constituents, as well as other New Yorkers in communities all over the state were in need of financial assistance to rebuild their lives. Governor Cuomo stepped up when FEMA did not, and with todays distribution of state aid he is delivering on his promise that impacted New Yorkers would not have to stand alone.

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush said, New Yorkers stand in support of one another when we face hardships. If one region of the state is suffering, we all feel it. The NYS Flood Recovery Program is a perfect example of that, and today we are delivering aid to the homeowners, farmers, and business owners in flood-devastated communities that are now faced with the challenge of putting back the pieces of their lives. Governor Cuomo should be commended for swiftly pledging and delivering this aid to those in need so that they may rebuild and replace what was lost.

John Becker, Chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors said, On behalf of the citizens of Madison County Id like to thank Governor Cuomo for his continued support and leadership during and after the flooding in the City of Oneida and the outlying areas of the county. Without the Governors hard work and determination the outcome would have been much different for our county and its citizens.

A. Max Smith, Acting Mayor of the City of Oneida, said, The damage that was wrought by this summers flooding has been difficult to face for many in our community, and that hardship only becomes more apparent as the true costs of recovery become known. Governor Cuomo has been a tremendous help throughout that process, and todays issuing of checks through the NYS Flood Recovery Program is another example of him standing with us in our time of need. This state aid to affected homeowners, and business owners will go a long way to furthering Oneidas resurgence.

Ronda Lanz, an Oneida resident who received funding from the program, said, When the floodwaters finally withdrew this summer, we were faced with a long list of tough choices about how to begin the rebuilding process. As we started to pick up the pieces to our lives, the looming costs of recovery caused a great deal of stress, but through it all Governor Cuomo was there promising that we would not have to face this burden alone. His support has been a tremendous help to my family and others in our community both emotionally and now financially. I am incredibly thankful for Governor Cuomos commitment to my needs and the needs of my community.

The NYS Flood Recovery Program is a coordinated effort by the NYS Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYS DHSES), NYS Homes and Community Renewal (NYS HCR) and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYS DAM)

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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